Chapter 19: Small Peach Basket
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The bright sunlight enveloped the small villa, and on the road in front, the green and yellow leaves rustled down, giving a somewhat lonely appearance from a distance.
Ji Xiao looked at Wei Qingyu's departing figure and felt a bit uneasy.
The bacon and fried eggs in front of her still exuded a tempting smell but Ji Xiao always felt as if she was forgetting something and was troubled to the point of being unable to eat.
The next-door neighbor's house welcomed another visit from their daughter, making Ji Xiao slightly furrow her brows.
— They say it's the Mid-Autumn Festival, but she can't reunite with her real parents.
Thinking about this, Ji Xiao's already uneasy mood became a bit more restless. The Young Miss casually dropped her fork, stood up, and headed towards her own room.
From certain perspectives, the original owner actually quite matched with Ji Xiao.
Just like the arrangement of her room suits Ji Xiao's taste.
In Ji Xiao's spacious bedroom, there's a whole wall-length display cabinet showcasing figures of various sizes. She looked at things she hesitated to buy in her original world, now appearing in front of her, belonging to her, and her restless mind eased.
After carefully appreciating everything, there's one particular place that caught Ji Xiao's attention.
— In the display cabinet slightly towards the middle, there's a red velvet box placed between Saber and Gilgamesh*.
*characters in the Fate/Stay Night Media (VN, anime, manga, games etc)
The exquisite clasp secures the box, and as the light falls, a delicate golden glow passes through Ji Xiao's eyes.
Could the original owner have placed some secret treasures inside?
Thinking about this, Ji Xiao curiously took the box out of the display cabinet.
The box, wrapped in red velvet and gold threads, rested in the fair palm of the girl, its fine fibers gently tickling Ji Xiao's skin.
Ji Xiao carefully examined this petite box, the light falling on the fabric creating a dynamic sense of flow.
She couldn't help but sigh in her heart, such fine fabrics could not be obtained only by money.
It was as if she had really discovered some incredible treasure hidden in the room by the original owner.
After scrutinizing for a while, Ji Xiao held her breath and cautiously opened the box.
Yet, in that instant of opening, a hint of disappointment appeared in her golden-orange eyes.
The reddish-brown box is empty, with only a red braided bracelet with a hanging small peach basket, quietly lying inside.
The light brown walnut pattern has been smoothed to a glossy roundness, and the basket looks as full as a round jingling bell.
Ji Xiao couldn't help but slander: Is this supposed to be something valuable?
She immediately rejected this thought.
She had seen this thing in her original world, and she wore it on her wrist until before the internship.
It was something her grandmother had prayed for her at a famous temple on the mountain, claiming that offerings in front of the Buddha could ward off evil spirits.
Though this little peach basket looks round and innocent, it appears simpler than the one she had been wearing all along.
Judging by the carved patterns on the peach basket, it doesn't seem to be the work of a renowned craftsman.
Could this also be a gift from one of the original owner's elders for warding off evil spirits?
But considering the original owner's arrogant and wilful nature, she would surely disdain such a gift from an elder. Then why place it in the display cabinet, guarded by Saber and Gilgamesh?
She can't figure it out.
Really can't figure it out.
Ji Xiao scrutinized the little peach-colored basket in her hand, always feeling that this thing held some special meaning for the original owner.
Just then, her phone, placed on the table, vibrated strongly, abruptly interrupting Ji Xiao's thoughts.
In this world, Ji Xiao doesn't have many people she cares about, only setting a special notification for one person—Wei Qingyu.
Ji Xiao swiftly unlocked her phone, finding it strange that Wei Qingyu would message her at this time.
But upon seeing the message from Wei Qingyu, her eyes tightened.
[Wei Qingyu: Uncle Ji wants to take us out for a meal, get ready.]
How come Ji Qingyun is with Wei Qingyu? Could he also be going to visit Wei Qingyu's parents' graves?
Is it just a coincidence?
Regardless of whether it's a coincidence or not, the appearance of the name "Ji Qingyun" near Wei Qingyu is a dangerous matter.
Although in the original text, Ji Qingyun attempted evil plots against Wei Qingyu several times without success, it can still make people worry.
Especially considering the last time, Ji Xiao witnessed Ji Qingyun's despicableness and audacity firsthand.
The sound of a car entering the home's courtyard echoed, and Ji Xiao saw the white Maybach that took Wei Qingyu to the cemetery returning.
However, Wei Qingyu wasn't in the car.
Ji Xiao's heart thumped, and her bad premonition slowly intensified.
She finally understood the reason for her restlessness after Wei Qingyu left – Ji Qingyun, this bastard, is trying to harm Wei Qingyu again today!
No wonder he, who has always been a daughter-slave, is late on this family reunion day. It turns out, he was setting traps elsewhere.
This damned scumbag, despicable man!
Ji Xiao cursed Ji Qingyun harshly in her heart, hastily gathered some essential items into her pockets, and rushed out.
Aunt Wu, seeing Ji Xiao hastily instructing the driver to turn and take her somewhere, quickly caught up, "Miss! Miss, where are you going? Sir is coming to see you today!"
Pah!
Ji Xiao spat in her heart and said she had something to discuss with Qi Qi and opened the car door to sit inside.
The car slowly left the villa area, and Aunt Wu's confused face was no longer visible.
The driver glanced at Ji Xiao, who was still catching her breath in the back seat, looking like he was hesitating to speak.
"What are you going to say?" Ji Xiao had already noticed the driver's behavior and asked coldly.
The driver, who had never encountered such a mistress, licked his lips lightly and said, "Miss, Miss Wei was taken away by Sir..."
He was coerced back by Ji Qingyun, who had malicious intentions. Having worked as a driver for less than a month at the Ji family, his mind was filled with what had just happened.
Wei Qingyu, who was half-forced by Ji Qingyun to get into the car, was still an underage girl. Regardless, the driver's conscience can't justify it.
Ji Xiao glanced at the driver, sensing a trace of a conscience in him, and asked, "Do you know where he took her?"
The driver felt a way out and hastily said, "I vaguely overheard that they went to the Wei residence."
Before the words settled, Ji Xiao furrowed her brow.
The only thing that could make Wei Qingyu give up protecting herself must be something related to herself.
After all, what her parents left for her has already been eaten by Ji Qingyun. She must cherish dearly whatever remains.
Ji Qingyun had pinpointed Wei Qingyu's weakness.
That bastard.
"Go to the Wei residence," Ji Xiao commanded.
The driver wanted to say something to Ji Xiao, but looking at her in the rearview mirror, he instantly shut his mouth. It was the first time he had seen the Young Miss so angry. Fiery flames flickered in her golden-orange eyes, and even as a Beta, he couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated.
The car sped on the bustling road. Ji Xiao looked at the flourishing cityscape outside the window, her emotions complicated.
At first, she only thought of surviving in this book, improving her impression in Wei Qingyu's heart, and making it through to the ending.
But now, she's being propelled forward, and her sense of morality makes her resent scum like Ji Qingyun even more. She disdains associating with someone like him.
A person who betrays trust, a scumbag who covets the daughter of a deceased close friend, is utterly undeserving of such a good life.
The rebellious spirit buried within Ji Xiao's body is awakened by the fiery flames in her golden-orange eyes.
S-class Alphas are never willing to be beneath others; their rebellious mentality is always ready to stir up.
Ji Xiao: "Since you've informed me of this today, it's equivalent to ruining my dad's good mood. If he finds out, he'll definitely see you as a thorn in his side. Whether you can continue working as a driver and have a decent meal is uncertain. If you don't want to be fired and lose your job, you know what I know. From now on, you can only follow me. Do you understand?"
Listening to Ji Xiao's words, the driver's hands couldn't help but wet his gloves with sweat.
He looked at Ji Xiao’s frosty gaze from the rear seat, nodded opportunistically, and said, "Understood."
As the words fell, the car fell into an even quieter state than before.
Ji Xiao propped up her head and looked out the window with unfocused eyes.
After a while, unable to contain the hesitation in his heart, the driver cautiously asked, "Um... Miss, what should we do later?"
"Play it by ear."
Ji Xiao tossed these four words without lifting her eyes to glance at the driver.
She hasn't figured out how to rescue Wei Qingyu from Ji Qingyun's clutches later.
The original text briefly mentioned that Ji Qingyun, this scumbag, had never succeeded in his lustful attempts towards Wei Qingyu. However, the exact reasons for his failure were never disclosed.
She strongly suspects that the author couldn't come up with a reason, so they just glossed over it.
With these thoughts, Ji Xiao let out an impatient breath through her nose.
The driver couldn't help but feel his hair stand on end, and the hands gripping the steering wheel tightened a bit more.
The car quickly arrived at the Wei's residence, also located in the city center. Ji Xiao could see from a distance a Western-style house built with red bricks.
Surrounded by greenery, the unconcealed historical charm made her naturally associate it with the elegant aura emanating from Wei Qingyu.
"Miss, we're here." The narrow alley made it difficult to navigate, so the driver slowed down and reminded Ji Xiao.
"Okay, drop me off at the entrance and find a place to hide," Ji Xiao, unsure if there were still people from Ji Qingyun here, carefully instructed the driver. "I'll call you if needed."
“Okay." The driver nodded, parking the car at the entrance of the Wei's residence.
Ji Xiao didn't say much more, gracefully getting out of the car.
As she crossed the overgrown courtyard, she caught a particularly familiar musky scent the moment she stood in front of the door.
The provocative Alpha pheromones from Ji Qingyun seeped out through the crack between the Wei's residence door and the frame.
Driven by the primal instincts of an Alpha, Ji Xiao felt an inexplicable restlessness coursing through her body. There was a rhythmic throbbing in the glands at the back of her neck, and the scent of peach brandy seemed on the verge of bursting out.
Ji Xiao felt her already rapid heartbeat beating even more crazily.
She placed her hand on the doorknob, effortlessly pressed down, and the long-neglected door swung open instantly.
It was at that moment that the pungent stimulus surged outward from the room.
The fumes were so strong that Ji Xiao could hardly keep her eyes open.
“What the fuck." Ji Xiao lowered her head and spat on the ground.
She looked up where the scent was stronger, casually grabbed the baseball bat left in the stairwell, and headed toward the second floor.
She didn't need to search room by room for Ji Qingyun's location. Just following the scent of the cheap musk would lead her to Ji Qingyun.
Before Ji Xiao even reached the staircase corner, she heard the knocking sound accompanying Ji Qingyun's familiar yet hypocritical voice.
"What are you doing, Qingyu? Open the door for Uncle, please. You seem really uncomfortable."
"Qingyu, I know Xiaoxiao usually treats you poorly. Instead of following her, why not follow me? What can't Uncle give you?"
"Uncle has liked you since childhood, have you forgotten? Anything Xiaoxiao has, Uncle never gave you less.”
….
Ji Xiao stood at the stairwell, listening to these words and feeling nothing but disgust.
She initially thought Ji Qingyun was unaware of the actions of the original owner. Now she understands that Ji Qingyun is well aware, but he has been condoning the original owner's excessive behavior towards Wei Qingyu.
Only this way, can he maximally leverage his “Uncle” identity and tempt Wei Qingyu to choose him when he wants to close the net.
He severed all her retreat paths, step by step forcing her into this dead end, becoming a pitcher plant that can only cling to him.
All those notions of being a gentleman, being noble, and upholding righteousness and integrity.
Ji Xiao glared hatefully at this shameless scum who was unscrupulously emitting his pheromones, feeling like there was a bold, capitalized "SHAME" written on his back.
Ji Xiao even felt that the sudden change in the original owner’s attitude towards Wei Qingyu, as mentioned by Qi Qi, was related to this scumbag.
"Qingyu, Uncle just wants to take good care of you. Uncle is over forty now, with a successful career. What else does he want? Just looking for a clean girl like you to spend the rest of our lives together..."
Together?
Spending the rest of their lives together?
Bullshit!
If you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, what are those beauties you hide in your suburban villa?!
Sweet words are just his deceitful tricks.
Others might not be aware, but Ji Xiao, having read the entire story, isn't oblivious, right?
When Ji Qingyun is satisfied after devouring his prey, he will discard them without hesitation.
The low-quality musk stimulated the pent-up anger in Ji Xiao's heart, and she could no longer restrain her rage towards Ji Qingyun. Gripping the baseball bat tightly, she stormed into the room with large strides.
Ji Qingyun hadn't finished speaking when he felt a cool breeze pass behind him. Alarmed, he stopped his hand and turned to check.
However, Ji Xiao didn't give him a chance. She raised the baseball bat high, swung it with all her might, and struck her so-called father.
"Bang!"
A horrifying dull sound echoed in the room.
The brand-new baseball bat flashed a dazzling light in the bright hallway.
Before Ji Qingyun could see the second person appearing in the corridor, he fell straight to the ground.
The unfilial daughter Ji Xiao looked at Ji Qingyun lying unconscious on the ground, her eyes filled with disgust and indifference.
Like a toad wanting to eat swan meat, but didn't even pee and see his own reflection*. Did he truly believe his cheap musk pheromones were valuable?
*used to refer to people with no self-awareness
Ji Xiao leaned on the baseball bat and lifted her hand to flick her dark hair, and the pheromones influenced by Ji Qingyun subtly leaked out.
The scent of peach brandy permeated the air, and the inferior musk, sensing the more compelling pheromones, became increasingly uneasy.
Without the backing of their owner, the previously bold creatures instantly became timid, scurrying close to the ground and hastily fleeing the room.
"Thud.”
A faint sound of a heavy object hitting the floor abruptly echoed in the silent corridor.
Ji Xiao quickly looked towards the door that Ji Qingyun had just hammered. She distinctly heard that the sound came from inside the room.
And inside that room was Wei Qingyu!
Ji Xiao kicked aside Ji Qingyun who was blocking the doorway, instantly breaking into a cold sweat.
The door handle, pressed against by Wei Qingyu, had already been pried loose.
With a strong pull, Ji Xiao tore it open. In an instant, the strong scent of mint uncontrollably wafted through the bedroom.
Ji Xiao could sense the deep fear embedded in these pheromones.
She squeezed into the bedroom through the partially opened door and saw Wei Qingyu, exhausted, kneeling on the floor.
The girl's disheveled long hair stuck to her face, and her dense eyelashes hung weakly, covering those beautiful turquoise eyes.
She weakly supported herself, struggling to stand up from the ground and brace against the door, but it was always in vain.
Ji Xiao felt a sharp pain in her heart as she watched. She went forward to help Wei Qingyu.
A strange breath suddenly descended, and Wei Qingyu's scattered nerves tensed.
Ji Xiao was about to reach out and lift Wei Qingyu, but the next second, she was forcefully pushed away by Wei Qingyu's struggling arm.
The girl's strength was weak, and Ji Xiao crouched by her side without being pushed away.
Instead, she fell to the ground again because of exhaustion.
The cool scent of mint lingered in Ji Xiao's heart as she observed Wei Qingyu's stubborn and frail appearance, causing her heart to ache with every beat.
She cautiously approached Wei Qingyu, embracing her gently, and soothingly said, "It's okay, it's okay, you're safe now."
But Wei Qingyu was like a frightened kitten, struggling desperately.
Her slightly long nails scratched across Ji Xiao's delicate skin, instantly leaving behind a red mark.
Because of the struggle just now, a few buttons of her collar came loose and slid down her shoulder. The curve of her collarbone, partly hidden and partly revealed, exposed itself in Ji Xiao's line of sight.
Within that delicate whiteness, a hint of desire tinted with a faint red seeped through, emitting a sweet fragrance that would make any Alpha lose control upon seeing.
Ji Xiao's heart throbbed, and the barely suppressed restlessness surged again.
The mint-scented pheromones infiltrated her bloodstream through the broken skin, uncontrollably disrupting this Alpha.
Ji Xiao repeatedly reminded herself that temporarily marking Wei Qingyu would lead to her gland being cut out, suppressing her inner impulse.
Then, using her gentlest voice, she reassured Wei Qingyu, "Wei Qingyu, you're truly safe now, trust me."
The wind blew in from the open window, and the faint scent of peach brandy enveloped Wei Qingyu.
Wei Qingyu's hazy eyes slightly widened; she felt like she had heard this phrase a long time ago.
In this moment, the girl sensed warmth from the person behind her, breaking through her tensed emotions.
The Alpha's pheromones slowly entered her body, smoothing out her anxious feelings.
Wei Qingyu's struggle gradually weakened, and her soft cheeks quietly rested on Ji Xiao's lap.
Feeling the warmth and security from the skin against her, she blinked her teary lashes gently.
Watching Wei Qingyu with her back turned, Ji Xiao let out a relieved sigh.
She took out the portable suppressant she casually put in her pocket before leaving home and swiftly opened the packaging.
A glistening liquid dripped from the needle's tip; Ji Xiao carefully pressed the needle against Wei Qingyu's arm, piercing it in.
Perhaps feeling the sudden pain, Wei Qingyu's body lying on Ji Xiao's lap trembled uneasily.
Ji Xiao felt the shivering beneath her, she pushed the syringe with one hand while gently patting the girl's frail back with the other.
Maybe feeling the security from that hand, Wei Qingyu's hand that was gripping Ji Xiao's clothes tightly, loosened slightly.
The legs beneath the pale blue skirt slowly curled upward, causing the girl's usually straight back to hunch.
As the suppressant injection finished, Ji Xiao felt a gentle and rhythmic breath on her knee.
Wei Qingyu, nestled on her lap, curled up and fell asleep.
They say this sleeping position is for those who lack a sense of security.
Because this position reminds them of the feeling in the mother's womb, and the mother has always been the one who provides the most sense of security to a child.
Ji Xiao looked at the mess around her, then at Wei Qingyu, who was still tightly clutching her clothes in deep sleep, with a somber expression.
She wished she had accompanied her when she went to visit the grave today.
Why didn't she think that scoundrel Ji Qingyun would have ill intentions toward Wei Qingyu on this day...
Ji Xiao stared at Ji Qingyun lying unconscious on the ground, layers of resentment reflecting in her eyes.
She had to find a way to make sure Ji Qingyun, this scum, wouldn't dare to harm Wei Qingyu again.
If there were things that were not explained clearly in the original text, she would clarify them herself.
With these thoughts, Ji Xiao carried the sleeping Wei Qingyu towards the soft bed in the room.
She had to settle Wei Qingyu first before dealing with the scum Ji Qingyun.
This house had been untouched for half a year, and the room, maintaining its original appearance, still retained the scent of the owner when they left.
Carefully placing Wei Qingyu on the bed, Ji Xiao could still catch a faint lingering fragrance in the room.
She surveyed this small bedroom, it was simple yet refined.
Many small details revealed the resemblance between this room and Wei Qingyu's bedroom at the Ji's house.
She had exerted all her efforts to bring herself back to this place that had always been her source of joy.
Ji Xiao looked at Wei Qingyu's peacefully sleeping face, feeling a slight twinge in her heart.
She sighed, sensing the need to move on, and decided to get up to deal with Ji Qingyun.
“Hmm..."
Maybe she felt that the person who gave her a sense of security was about to leave, so Wei Qingyu let out a soft whimper.
Without the past coldness and aloofness, the fragile her was left with only a soft and milky presence.
Her leek-white fingers tightly grasped Ji Xiao's hem, even hooking into her pockets.
Ji Xiao remembered the first night she arrived, she held onto her like this, not allowing her to leave.
Only when she loses consciousness will the softness of a girl appear.
Ji Xiao looked at the hill between Wei Qingyu's eyebrows and sighed.
She took out the mobile phone in her pocket and sat by the bed to stay with Wei Qingyu for a while like she did on the first day.
The soft sunlight passes through the glass and falls into the quiet room.
Wei Qingyu put half of her face on Ji Xiao's waist, clutched her pocket, and fell asleep deeply.
The girl's body still had a scent that had not faded away, and her light and slow breath was close to Ji Xiao's waist.
The thin fabric could not block any warmth, and it ran wild in Ji Xiao's heart, stirring up a mint-flavored storm.
Ji Xiao was so stirred that she absentmindedly scrolled to the bottom of the short videos on her phone.
By some strange coincidence, Ji Xiao shifted her gaze from the phone to Wei Qingyu.
The girl's small face was sunk in the soft pillow, with a faint pinkish hue on her cheeks, possessing a bit of cuteness that shouldn't naturally belong to her.
Those crimson lips exuded a sparkling watery sheen, resembling a plump and delicate fruit, releasing an alluring sweetness from top to bottom.
Ji Xiao couldn't help but feel her throat rolling up and down, and the faint minty scent seeped into the depths of her heart.
Will it also taste like mint if she kissed her?
Ji Xiao secretly pondered in her mind, and suddenly, the phone in her pocket vibrated.
Not sure if she was feeling guilty she trembled like a startled cat, and her whole body shivered.
After a while, she held the phone, sneakily glanced around, straightened her posture upon realizing no one saw her, and muttered softly in her heart, What's there to feel guilty about? Just taking a look at Wei Qingyu sleeping.
It's not illegal...
Without thinking, Ji Xiao opened her phone to check the culprit that startled her—[Qi Qi: Yes, what's wrong?”
And the message just before this one was the one Ji Xiao had sent to her earlier:[Sister, do you know a few buddies involved in gangs?]
Ji Xiao plans to teach Ji Qingyun a lesson and needs some "manpower".
Ji Xiao: [Can you help me ask if they're available now? Come to Yanlu Lane right away, one person for a thousand, the more, the better.]
Qi Qi, who was just being carefree, immediately sat up straight: [Damn, Sister Xiao, are you in trouble? Going all out with your money!]
Ji Xiao simply replied: [No, I want them to do me a favor to build up my momentum.]
Qi Qi, seeing that Ji Xiao wasn't very willing to talk about it, didn't ask further and said: [Okay, I'll ask for you. They'll definitely agree to a thousand.]
Ji Xiao sent a "Thanks" to Qi Qi and then looked towards Wei Qingyu beside her.
Her current condition seemed much better than before, and the furrow between her eyebrows had also disappeared.
The gentle sunlight spilled into the clean bedroom, landing on the girl's spread-out eyelashes, serene and soft.
Ji Xiao tried to retrieve Wei Qingyu's hand from her pocket, carefully taking it out while she relaxed, holding the girl's slender wrist with her leek-white hand.
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
She couldn't help but furrow her brow.
It's really too thin, Ji Xiao cradled Wei Qingyu's wrist in her hand, even feeling like the delicate wrist bone could break with just a slight force.
It was at this moment that Ji Xiao noticed several glaring crimson marks on Wei Qingyu's cold, pale skin.
Those marks were rough and barbaric, formed by several finger impressions much longer than her own fingers.
It must be Ji Qingyun!
Ji Xiao angrily exhaled, immediately contacting the driver waiting downstairs.
"Miss," the driver hurriedly ran up, coincidentally meeting Ji Xiao about to leave the room.
"Come over, help me carry my dad down," Ji Xiao glanced at the driver and walked into the room she was in earlier.
The driver looked puzzled at Ji Xiao's words but briskly followed her.
Upon entering, he saw Ji Qingyun lying on the ground. His eyes were full of surprise. "Miss, this is..."
Ji Xiao didn't explain, only saying, "Take him downstairs."
"Yes." The driver, aware that he was tied to Ji Xiao's orders, lifted Ji Qingyun and headed downstairs without further questions.
Not sure if it was because of the long interval or the intense jolting while going downstairs.
Ji Qingyun carried on the driver's shoulder, and lifted his head slightly, as if about to wake up. He struggled, gripping the driver's shoulder.
The driver's already worried heart clenched tighter.
Ji Xiao followed, unceremoniously picking up a baseball bat and giving Ji Qingyun another hit.
Ji Qingyun's mouth was slightly open, and just as he was about to utter an "ah" and open his eyes, he fainted again on the driver's shoulder.
The driver wore a look of astonishment and disbelief, glancing at the young lady approaching him. Faced with the sturdy baseball bat, he dared not say a word.
As the two walked out of the Wei family's courtyard, they saw a few youths not far away dressed in flashy baseball uniforms.
Each of these individuals seemed disreputable, holding weapons comparable to the sturdy baseball bat in Ji Xiao's hand. Their appearance gave off an impression of being anything but serious.
The driver's just-relieved heart tensed up again.
Could this be some kind of robbery?
Just as the driver was still pondering this in his mind, Ji Xiao raised her hand and called out, "Brothers, over here!"
Upon hearing this, the group immediately turned towards Ji Xiao and approached in an imposing manner.
The driver had never witnessed such a situation before and felt a bit frightened.
"Are you Xiao Qi's friend?" the lead man asked, casually revealing the dragon tattoo on his arm.
Ji Xiao, however, showed no fear and found the tattoo on the man's arm strangely familiar.
She nodded and said, "Yeah, are our brothers all here?"
The man, seeing that the young girl in front of him wasn't afraid, found it interesting. He kindly pointed behind him and said, "A few more are blocked on the way."
Ji Xiao nodded, sizing up the people present.
Including the man, there were a total of five, all sturdy Alphas.
Especially the leader with the dragon tattoo and bulging muscles on his arms.
It could easily compete with Ji Qingyun's bodyguards.
Ji Xiao was satisfied, "Time waits for no one, brother, tell those guys not to come for now. Let's go."
The man raised his hand, "Let's make it clear, we're not responsible for beating anyone with this thousand."
Ji Xiao smiled, "Of course, it's not good to hit people. We don't do that."
Now the man was puzzled, "Then what do you need us for?"
"To boost up," Ji Xiao said, glancing at the black business car parked in the courtyard. "Can you guys drive?"
"Here." A blond guy in a denim jacket lifted his driver's license from his bag.
"Great," Ji Xiao said, pointing at Ji Qingyun, who was carried over by the driver. "Help out, get him into the car, and let's get going."
The five people looked at each other, unable to figure out what tricks this young girl was playing.
But the tempting reward of a thousand yuan was hard to resist. Following the principle of "bold will survive while the timid will starve." They took Ji Qingyun from the driver's hands.
"Stay here later, don't let anyone in," Ji Xiao instructed the driver as she watched the five people get into the car. "If Wei Qingyu asks you what's going on, tell her my dad had something urgent and left early. I called you to pick her up."
"Miss, why don't you tell Miss Wei the truth?" The driver was even more puzzled.
Ji Xiao glanced at the room on the second floor where Wei Qingyu was, her eyes deep. "You wouldn't understand."
The original host was never someone eager to help others, so she couldn't let Wei Qingyu know about something that went against her established character.
The blond guy honked a few times, signaling for Ji Xiao to get in. Under the watchful eyes of the driver, Ji Xiao boarded the car.
Under the radiant noon sunlight, the black car sped towards the eastern suburban woodland that originally belonged to the Wei family.
Ji Xiao looked at the rapidly receding skyscrapers.
This time, let her be a Lei Feng* once, do a good deed without leaving a trace.
*Lei Feng (雷锋) was a soldier in the People's Liberation Army of China and became a cultural icon for his selflessness and altruistic acts. The phrase "学雷锋好榜样" (xué Léi Fēng hǎo bǎngyàng) translates to "Learn from Lei Feng, be a good example" and reflects the idea of promoting selfless acts and kindness in society.
After Ji Qingyun regained some consciousness, he felt a severe pain in the back of his neck, and both sides of his temples throbbed.
A chilly and damp sensation kept his body, and the scent of soil crawled into his nostrils.
A heavy feeling of fabric pressed against the skin of his face, tightly wrapping around the back of his head.
Ji Qingyun struggled to open his eyes, attempting to see the surroundings clearly, but no matter how he blinked, all he could see was darkness.
Realizing something, a thud echoed in Ji Qingyun's heart.
Was he kidnapped?!
He tried to move his body to sit up, only to find his arms bound behind him with a rope, rendering him immobile. Even his legs were tightly fixed in a bent position, restricting his strength from breaking free.
Ji Qingyun refused to accept his fate and began to try to struggle.
He vigorously twisted his wrists, and the sunlight penetrating through his white shirt revealed the bulging veins on his arms.
He exerted a lot of effort and fought with all his might.
But that's just how he saw it.
In the eyes of the onlookers watching his performance coldly, he seemed like a maggot trapped in the mud.
Dirty and hilarious.
"Enough, you've struggled for fifteen minutes, and the rope hasn't budged a bit." Ji Xiao crouched in front of Ji Qingyun, using a voice changer to sound like a man.
Hearing this sudden voice, Ji Qingyun's heart sank.
Did he witness the struggle just now?
"Who are you?!" Ji Qingyun asked nervously and fearfully.
"Don't you know where you came from?" Ji Xiao reminded.
Ji Qingyun instantly recalled losing consciousness at the Wei residence.
At the moment when he was about to succeed.
Thinking of this, Ji Qingyun's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Unable to believe it, he followed the direction of the voice and lifted his head, "You... you're from the Wei family..."
"Smart of you to figure it out." Ji Xiao said, gesturing for the man beside her to slap Ji Qingyun's face.
As the man's rough palm struck Ji Qingyun's face, his anxiety intensified, "It can't be... the Wei family has already fallen apart! There shouldn't be anyone left..."
Ji Xiao sneered: "Do you really think that's the case?"
She remembered from the original text that although Ji Qingyun had obtained the majority of the Wei family's assets, he wasn't well-liked.
It was for this reason that Wei Qingyu had the opportunity to connect with the loyal old members of the Wei family from the past. After reaching adulthood, she took back what rightfully belonged to her from Ji Qingyun.
Ji Xiao pressed the baseball bat against Ji Qingyun's shoulder, warning from a position of dominance, "Ji Qingyun, don't think just because there's no one left in Miss' family that you can have any ideas about her!"
The familiar "Miss" tightened Ji Qingyun's heart, and the silent darkness in front of him magnified the fear within him.
He forced himself to ask, "Who on earth are you?!"
The elder brother next to Ji Xiao, upon hearing this, directly kicked Ji Qingyun, "What's with the attitude!"
This elder brother had powerful legs, and Ji Qingyun was sent rolling by his force.
His white shirt was covered in patches of mud, and the once carefree openness of the collar was now gone, replaced by wrinkles and a disheveled appearance.
These two voices were clearly not from the same person, and the latter sounded rougher, with even more strength.
This led Ji Qingyun to associate this person as the bodyguard of the other.
In other words, the person standing in front of him shouldn't be an insignificant figure.
There were quite a few influential people who had good relations with the Wei family in the upper circles. Many had benefited from the Wei family's favor.
Someone may be secretly protecting Wei Qingyu...
Ji Qingyun couldn't help but feel alarmed. He quickly changed his tone and said, "Brother, let's discuss things. I have a good relationship with the Wei family, and Qingyu is like a daughter to me..."
Ji Xiao sneered after hearing what Ji Qingyun said, and said sarcastically: "To attack your daughter, Ji Qingyun, you truly are a scumbag! Haven't you thought about how your daughter would feel if she knew about such things? Aren't you afraid I'll tell everything to your daughter?”
Ji Xiao is a little angry. Such a man is not worthy of being a father, let alone a human being!
Hearing that Ji Xiao might be involved, Ji Qingyun felt anxious and quickly said, "I won't! Really, I won't do it again in the future! I was just temporarily confused. I will definitely treat Qingyu as my own daughter from now on! Brother, let's discuss things. Please, don't tell Ji Xiao... don't inform her..."
Ji Xiao observed Ji Qingyun's submissive demeanor upon hearing her name, feeling a complex mix of emotions.
She genuinely cared about the original owner...
Ji Xiao let out a light sigh and raised the baseball bat in her hand.
Unfortunately, she had no interest in understanding a scumbag.
A scumbag is a scumbag.
No matter how well he might perform in other aspects, it couldn't change the deeply tainted nature within him.
Ji Xiao was willing to continue listening to Ji Qingyun's unassured words. She nodded, indicating the nearby thugs to keep him restrained as he continued to squirm.
Ji Qingyun hadn't finished his sentence when he felt hands and knees forcefully pressing down on his body.
He was compelled to raise his head, and above the throbbing Adam's apple, something cold and sharp descended.
A knife!
It was a knife!
Ji Qingyun instantly panicked.
The sharp blade was against his throat, and any breath he took could kill him.
Ji Xiao signaled the man beside her to pinch Ji Qingyun's face, while she menacingly warned, "You don't need to tell me these useless things. Let me make it clear to you: if you dare to pull off such a stunt again, be careful that your ill-gotten gains won't save your life!"
As the words fell, the knife once again approached Ji Qingyun's throat.
The stinging sensation of skin being cut flooded Ji Qingyun's mind, and in the dark world, he seemed to see a vivid splash of red.
Ji Qingyun, who hadn't experienced much adversity, was utterly intimidated.
Now, his legs were trembling uncontrollably, and unable to hold himself up any longer, he slumped over.
The wind swept through the woods, carrying a damp, foul smell in the air.
Everyone wrinkled their brows, and Ji Xiao glanced at Ji Qingyun's crotch.
The deep blue trousers had darkened a few shades.
This coward not only passed out from fear but also wet his pants?!
“You're still an Alpha, you're embarrassing." Ji Xiao kicked Ji Qingyun a few times with evident disdain.
"Yeah, not even as courageous as us." Ji Xiao's companion expressed strong contempt. He looked at Ji Xiao, who excelled in courage and strategy, saying, "Young lady, today, your brother here has made friends with you. I'm Xie Yong, what's your name?"
When Ji Xiao heard this name, she paused for a moment. Finally, she understood why she found this person familiar at first glance.
In the original text, the bodyguard accompanying Wei Qingyu and the male lead was named Xie Yong. Several times, he protected Wei Qingyu and helped her escape danger. Ji Xiao once thought he was even more reliable than the male lead.
Most importantly, the dragon tattoo on his arm is exactly the distinctive feature of Xie Yong described several times in the book!
Ji Xiao felt a sense of joy. She was initially concerned that these people might leak this information to Ji Qingyun, and play both sides. Now, she can be completely at ease, and in the future, she can turn to Xie Yong for help if Wei Qingyu encounters any problems.
It's like God is helping her!
"I'm Ji Xiao." Ji Xiao shook hands with Xie Yong. "Today's matters end here. If Brother Xie encounters anything in the future, feel free to come to me."
“Okay." Xie Yong nodded. “Then, let's go."
After that, Xie Yong signaled his brothers to loosen the ties on the unconscious Ji Qingyun and, like when they arrived, avoided the cameras to leave the wooded area.
As the sun set in the west, several well-dressed men emerged from the shadows of the woods.
"Sir, should we..." one man stepped forward.
"Help them clean up, Miss… is safe now," the lead man with sunglasses said, watching with a solemn expression as the group departed.
….
The sun shifted from the east to the west in the sky, casting dappled light through the camphor trees in front of the red-brick house, reaching the second-floor room.
Wei Qingyu opened her eyes in a daze, and the faint fragrance in the room subtly entered her nostrils, creating a familiar sensation that left her momentarily stunned.
Her turquoise eyes moved slowly, observing the familiar surroundings of her usual bedroom in her home. A hint of joy surfaced in the coldness.
She is currently lying in her bedroom at home, and everything in the room looks familiar to her.
"Da da da…"
Through the tightly closed door, Wei Qingyu seemed to hear the familiar sound of fruit being cut in the kitchen downstairs.
Before she could find her shoes, the girl ran out barefoot.
Her silky long hair traced an elegant arc with the rhythm of her run.
Is what happened in the past six months just a dream?
Is she waking up now?
Wei Qingyu ran into the kitchen, holding onto the door frame. Just about to say something, the sentence got stuck in her throat. Her vibrant turquoise eyes suddenly lost their brightness.
The kitchen was empty, and a layer of dust covered the mahogany cabinets.
The imagined figure of her mother didn't appear in the kitchen. The rhythmic sound, resembling the cutting of fruits, was just the noise of the loosely closed window panes tapping against the window frame.
A slightly cool breeze entered the room, carrying with it the events that happened before Wei Qingyu lost consciousness.
Before losing consciousness, the nauseating voice of Ji Qingyun still echoed in her ears.
Wei Qingyu froze, trembling hands reaching to the back of her neck.
When those pale fingertips touched the soft gland, the corners of the girl's eyes instantly turned slightly red.
There was not a single mark on the gland.
Ji Qingyun hadn't done anything to her.
Wei Qingyu leaned against the wall, showing fear for the first time in this quiet, deserted place.
She didn't understand why Ji Qingyun hadn't harmed her. With a lingering sense of relief, she realized this was just a false alarm.
There was no way the past events were just a dream. If it were just a dream, why didn't she wake up after enduring so much torment?
This was reality.
Suddenly, Wei Qingyu felt like there was something in her tightly clenched hand. Curiously, she opened her palm.
The sunlight filtered through the leaves outside the window, falling precisely on the red bracelet with a small peach basket hanging on it appeared in her sight.
Author's Note:
Yesterday, I actually saw a great person in the comments who could see through pigeons’ mind. Pigeon was so scared that my hair fell out.ＯoＯ!!
